Hidden treasure
Editor,
This past weekend, I had the good fortune to be part of Imagine Community Arts Center’s latest Art Festival and fundraiser. It was a blast. We had art displays made by students, young and old, face painting, craft activities, Mariachi Academy musicians and Aztec dancers.
I had delightful conversations with people who attended. We were so fortunate to have so many hard-working volunteers to serve food, display art, sell tickets, make tissue paper flowers, instruct children’s crafts and organize the cake walk. Thank you to all those who volunteered and to our friends who came out to support the art festival, artists and performers.
It often surprises me that many people in the community don’t know about Imagine Community Arts Center. The center offers art and music instruction for children, adults and families for very reasonable fees.
Imagine is more than learning about composition, line and color. It’s about children and young people in this community having a place to express their creative talents in a positive and constructive way. As a child growing up in Porterville, I was not an athlete, but I did love art. Imagine offers some children a doorway to finding themselves and their place in society. That is one of the reasons I was so happy to see what Rebecca is doing with Imagine. I am excited for my own child, as well as others in the community that thrive on art.
Imagine Community Arts Center is making art accessible. A scholarship program is being established for kids who have a desire to learn about art and music, but don’t have the resources to afford a class. The scholarship program is one of the reasons for the fundraiser. When children are encouraged to have a constructive, creative outlet of expression, the child, family and whole community are empowered. Self-esteem soars, creativity blossoms and we begin to be a community whose members feel competent and connected to each other.
Imagine has recently been granted its 501(c)(3) status, making it possible for charitable donations to be made toward its operation. If you would like to help, you may make a donation to Imagine Community Arts Center, 250 N. Main St.
Laney Briggs
Porterville
